Dakota Rail Trail

Lester Prairie residents and business owners, and city, county, and state government officials watched as Lester Prairie Mayer Eric Angvall cut the ribbon during the grand opening of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail in Lester Prairie Sept. 13, 2019. Photo by Ivan Raconteur

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

Information updated February 2020

The Dakota Regional Trail connects Lester Prairie to Carver and Hennepin counties. A ribbon cutting took place in September, 2019 after the trail was paved through Lester Prairie.

Renee Mattson, executive director of the Greater Minnesota Parks & Trails Coalition, along with several elected officials, spoke during the ribbon cutting ceremony.A common theme was the value of the trail as a recreational asset, not just to the community, but to the region.

Speakers also noted the trail project would not have been possible without the dedicated volunteers and others who supported development of the trail.

Where: The trail is a former railroad corridor extending 44 miles from Hutchinson to Wayzata.

Features: The trail is paved from McLeod Co. Rd. 1 in Lester Prairie to the east.

No motorized vehicles are allowed except snowmobiles, which can be used west of McLeod County Road 9. Snowmobiles are not permitted on the trail anywhere in Carver County.